Ofcom Confirms In-flight Phone Plans

Communications regulator Ofcom has confirmed plans to enable airlines to offer mobile communication services on UK-registered aircraft, if they wish to do so, subject to approval by the relevant UK and European aviation authorities - the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK.
The decision has been developed jointly with other EU countries and will enable use in European airspace. It follows an Ofcom consultation on the proposals published in October 2007.
Ofcom says that the safety of passengers is paramount and that mobile systems on aircraft will only be installed when they have secured approval by EASA and the CAA in the UK. If such approval has been secured, it says, it will be a matter for individual airlines to judge whether there is consumer demand for these services.
Some airlines have offered customers in-flight outbound telephone services via the airline's own network for a number of years. But the system proposed by Ofcom will enable passengers to use their own mobile phones, which will connect to an on-board base station. Both of these must be switched off during take-off and landing to ensure they do not interfere with mobile networks on the ground.
Once the aircraft reaches a minimum height of 3,000 metres, the system may be switched on by the cabin crew. Mobile handsets will then be able to use the aircraft's network service to make and receive calls, which will be routed via a satellite link to the network on the ground. Calls will be billed through passengers' normal service providers.
Mobile phones will connect to the system for 2G (GSM) data, voice and text services. Ofcom says that if the service is successful, it could be extended to 3G and other services in future. Ofcom proposes to allow the use of these systems by amending the aircraft operators' existing Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 licences.
You can see the full Ofcom statement here. And responses to the consultation here.